Fitbit not pairing with JBL Endurance Peak Headphones

[TonyGAS]

Since July 2019, I've been trying to pair my new JBL Endurance Peak headphone with my Fitbit Ionic (Version 27.70.7.14) to no avail.  Even with new Ionic releases, the Ionic will not pair with the JBL.  However, the JBL's will pair with my iPhone and other devices.  Furthermore, I just purchased a truck (Nissan Frontier), and while my iPhone will pair with the truck's My Car app, the Ionic will not.  

In both scenarios (JBL and My Car app), my Ionic will find the device in the Search mode.  And when I tap the device on my Ionic, the Ionic responds with "Pairing JBL Endurance Peak" or "Pairing My Car".  On my JBL's, the flashing blue light turns to red but the Ionic continues to reflect "Pairing JBL Endurance Peak" and never actually pairs.  

On my truck screen, I noticed that initially the My Car app shows a PIN Code of "1234".  After my Ionic reflects "Pairing My Car", the truck screen changes the PIN Code to a random six digit code (I've tried several times and the code changes to something different every time).  And the pairing never completes (my car eventually states "Pairing Unsuccessful").  

Is the My Car app expecting the six digit code to be entered into the Ionic, or is the Ionic sending an erroneous signalling command to the My Car app requesting the six digit code?  Similarly, even though there is no screen to see it, is the Ionic sending an erroneous signalling message to the JBL's requesting a PIN Code?  As you know, there is no way for me to enter a numeric code into my Ionic.    So, I'm thinking this is a coding error within the Ionic.  Thoughts...? 

[SilviaFitbit]

@TonyGAS Welcome to the Community. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with your Ionic. 

It's pretty weird what you're experiencing with your Ionic and JBL endurance. In this case, I would like you to restart your Ionic and then try pairing your Bluetooth headphones once again. 

Keep me posted. I'll be around if you have any additional questions. 

[TonyGAS]

Hi Silvia, 

Apologies if you're seeing two replies - I thought i had posted my earlier response, yet I don't see it on the site.  

I followed your suggestions - Restarting my Ionic and pairing the JBL's.  It did not work - the devices reacted the same way as before.  I even reset the JBL earphones, followed the pairing between left and right JBL earphones, and then tried pairing the JBL's with the Ionic (in that order) to no avail. 

I did some additional research and found on a couple of threads that Bluetooth 4.0 (Ionic) and Bluetooth 4.2 (JBL Endurance Peak) are compatible in certain situations.  One has to do with the Bluetooth Smart Energy feature.  Another has to do with signalling messages between the two devices.  Could either of these two issues be the reason the pairing fails?  Can you check with your engineers?  

1.  JBL Bluetooth 4.2 will be backward compatible iwth Bluetooth 4.0 devices that also implement the low energy feature, per excerpt below: 

"Will Bluetooth 4.2 devices be backward compatible with current Bluetooth devices in the marketplace?
Devices implementing only the low energy feature (branded Bluetooth Smart) in Bluetooth 4.2 will be backward compatible with Bluetooth 4.0 or 4.1 devices that also implement the low energy feature."

2.  From a discussion thread at:  https://stackoverflow.com/questions/39719474/is-bluetooth-4-2-compatible-with-4-0   current as of Jan 24, 2020. 

"4.2 features are negotiated between the Central and the Peripheral. If a 4.2 host tries to negotiate with a 4.0, negotiation will fail because messages are unknown. Error must be assumed as a soft failure meaning feature is not supported for a 4.2 host. For instance:

• length extension in 6.B.5.1.9:

  If the Link Layer of the master or slave sends the LL_LENGTH_REQ PDU to a device that does not understand that PDU, then the device should expect an LL_UNKNOWN_RSP PDU in response. If the Link Layer receives an LL_UNKNOWN_RSP PDU with the UnknownType field set to LL_LENGTH_REQ, then it shall not transmit another LL_LENGTH_REQ PDU to the peer device.

• Secure connection in 3.H.3.5.2:

  The SC field is a 1-bit flag that is set to one to request LE Secure Connection pairing, otherwise it shall be set to 0 based on the supported features of the initiator and responder, the possible resulting pairing mechanisms are: if both devices support LE Secure Connections, use LE Secure Connections; otherwise use LE legacy pairing.

So basically, yes, the are fully compatible.

Side note: Even in 4.2 spec, all "new" features are optional (length extension, secure connections, etc.). So, as long as the host answers negotiations with messages meaning "I know about them, but I dont support them", it can claim 4.2 compatibility and not actually implement anything fancy ! Most SoC vendors who issued software upgrades to 4.2 for their current hardware actually did that."

[Percy5]

Restarted the Ionic.  Still just getting blue swirl ‘pairing’, but not successful

[BigK61]

I have restarted my Ionic twice, and my JBL Endurance ear buds twice.  No luck.  I'm trying to figure out which one of these I should ditch.  Please help.

[pat244 · Accepted solution]

i tried the same thing...no luck...anyone get the jbl to pair?

[pat244]

was going to try thejbuds air sport...

[TonyGAS]

BigK61 - I haven't been able to get a solid response from Fitbit concerning this issue. The helpdesk keeps saying that they are working on new software releases all the time.  But they don't actually confirm this issue is being looked at.... 

[TonyGAS]

Hi SilviaFitbit - several software updates and 6 more months have gone by, and Fitbit still hasn't resolved the issue of pairing these high-end JBL Endurance Headphones with the Ionic.  I just updated the most recent Fitbit software, too.  Is anyone at Fitbit really looking at this issue?  Several customers on this thread, plus others I've found on Google are experience the same dissatisfaction.  Can you please share with us what Fitbit is doing about this issue?  

[SilviaFitbit]

Hey everyone! Thank you so much for taking the time to share what you're experiencing with third-party headphones. 

Fitbit is aware that there might be some inconveniences with headphones. I would like you to confirm that you're putting your device on the other wrist, on some models, preferably the same side as the receiver on the headphones. 

I'll be around if you have any additional questions. 

[pat244]

Had them on desk right next to each other...pairs small Sony speaker in 10 second s....easy....I'm sure it's a software issue with the JBL in particular...my 2¢.

[pat244]

any updates?

can anyone recommend a set of wireless buds they like and work?

[JimSwimmer]

Thought I'd found my watch but I have the jbuds air sport and the BT compatibility, especially without phone needed was a big draw for me....

[TonyGAS]

Hi Silvia - After two years, I still cannot get the Fitbit to pair with my JBL's.  The JBL's will pair with other devices, such as my iPhone. But, they Fitbit will not pair up.  I've updated my Fitbit software several times over these past two years, and each time I have tried to pair up with the JBL's.  Still doesn't work.  Looks like others are still having the same issue in this thread  Is there any resolution from Fitbit?